Property owners to appeal valuations starting Monday

Commercial property owners will soon have their day to contest the new property values for all commercial properties.

The county will hold its Board of Equalization meeting throughout much of the day Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in the Mower County Government Center.

More than 25 property owners will appeal their property values to the board.

Most are attending due to the new commercial assessments. The county board is paying Vanguard Appraisals more than $250,000 to complete the re-assessments after noticing discrepancies and inaccurately-assessed commercial property values. By hiring Vanguard, the board could complete the new assessments in about a year, rather than completing them in house over multiple years.

Overall, commercial property values increased by 29 percent, but the increase includes new construction.

Many business and property owners have been outspoken about the assessments.

Mark Nagle, who’s been a supporter of downtown revitalization, previously said the higher values — which in turn means higher property taxes — are going to discourage investing.

“It makes it so people like me don’t want to buy property,” said Nagle, co-owner of South Central Athlete and other downtown properties.

Nagle and other property owners have said the higher values which would likely increase taxes will mean higher costs for businesses renting properties.

This week likely won’t be the end for the commercial assessments. County commissioners have said they expect some property owners to take their cases to tax court.

List of appeals:

6 p.m. June 11

Austin City’s Employee’s Credit Union (Pam Reistad)

Bruce Bucknell

Lawrence Hanson

Craig Byram for Pro Growth Bank

Craig Jacobson

Jim Plehal

Jennings/Koch

Allan Ziebarth

Jeff Wilhelmi

1 p.m. June 12

Angie Hanf

Arnie Johnson/City of Mapleview

Eric Anderson / LL Hage Siding & Windows

Fred Regua

Bob Maus / BMF Partnership

Dave Lunning

Craig Byram for JT Leasing

Karen Cosgrove

Tony Warmka

Daryle Irlbeck

Rick Lamon

9 a.m. June 14

Mark Nagle / South Central

Mike Adams / Ice Haus

Dan Donnelly for Taco Johns

Art Nelson

Mark Nagle for Jeff Carney / Carney Auto

Bob Sinkink

Randy Berg

Ralph Donker

LeAnn Clausen / Adams Funeral Home

Mark Monnier

Mark Reeve

Bill Carroll, Jr. / 100 Building Partnership

Jon Shaw

Craig Shaw

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